Page 16 of Gift from the Tree

It’s so fucking loud.

“It’s been two hours. Why hasn’t she woken up?”

“She had a very rough day. Give it some time.”

“She shouldn’t be here, Gaster.”

“She’s exactly where she should be.”

I can hear the voices going back and forth, about me, I assume, but I can’t open my eyes. For the second time today, if it’s still today, my eyes feel like they’re being weighed down with sand and the pounding in my head is going to cause me to throw up again.

“Please shut up,” I croak out as loud as I can. With my voice still raspy and hoarse, it isn’t that loud but obviously gets the job done because the room immediately silences.

“Better, much better,” I mumble, releasing a breath of relief, which is followed up with a snort that sounds way too close to my ear, but I can’t muster the energy to look.

“I need you to open your eyes and drink this. It’ll help your throat. Come on now.” Now that voice I know. Gaster’s here, so I’m safe…for now.

I make a very unladylike grunt and groan as I force my eyes to peel open. It takes even more effort than the last time I was woken up after I passed out, but once I get one of them open, I can see Gaster sitting on the edge of the bed, close enough to hand me the drink but not too close to feel like he’s invading my personal space. That alone has him even more in my favor and I give him a small smile paired with a nod to let him know I’m okay. He returns my smile with a pleased one and holds up a cup with a straw to my mouth, making it easier for me to drink.

The first sip surprises me. I wasn’t expecting it to be warm or anything other than water, but it’s some sort of herbal tea. I can detect a hint of cinnamon along with a mixture of earthy and sweet undertones. Whatever it is, it’s better than anything I’ve ever tasted, aside from coffee, and I greedily chug it down as fast as I can with the straw, slurping the last drop. I close my eyes and lay my head back down with a happy sigh.

“I think that’s my new favorite sound,” a voice says from right beside me.

My eyes fly open, and I hurtle myself straight up so fast, I nearly go off the side of the bed, if it wasn’t for Gaster still sitting there, blocking my way down.

“Who the fuck are you?” I shriek at the same time Gaster yells, “Enough, Draken.”

I look at Gaster, then at the man lying in the spot right beside where I was just sleeping. I look at the pillow I just had my head resting on and then move my eyes back to him. Fuck, he’s been lying awfully close to me.

My head spins from moving too quickly and my face is turning red because of the mixture of emotions starting to course through me. Anger, embarrassment, worry, and some others I’m not willing to examine right now.

“Like ol’ Gaster here said. My name’s Draken. I’m going to spend forever with you,” he says so cheerfully and confidently, I let a laugh slip through before I shut my mouth back.

Who is this guy?

Before I can ask again, he continues, “While you were sleeping, you were letting out these sweet, soft snores. It was like listening to white noise, so peaceful. I thought that was my favorite sound until you sighed just now,” he says dreamily, letting out his own sweet little sigh.

Four voices yelling “Draken” echo around the room, causing me to jump again, and I quickly turn to put my back on the headboard of the bed to get a better look at who’s in the room with me.

How could I not have paid attention to my surroundings?

Get your shit together, Willow, you’re in a strange place and know no one.

Deep breath.

The room’s huge, bigger than my bedroom back at the estate. There are four lamps on, casting a yellowish glow around the room. With the light so dim, I can’t tell exactly what colors the walls are, but there’s one darker, almost like a plum, the other three a light creamy color.

Bookshelves line one wall, beautifully designed and decorated with fairy lights, plants, rocks, candles, blankets, and a sitting nook. It’s a book nerd’s wet dream. Me, I’m the book nerd, my mouth’s literally watering, wanting so bad to go run my fingers down the spines of the books. My eyes linger there for another moment before moving on to the three doors spread around the room, one being the way out, and the other two, I’m assuming, lead to a bathroom and a closet.

Finally, I move my attention to the men in the room with me. My gaze locks on eyes greener than any grass imaginable. It’s like looking into an emerald with a flashlight shining through it, they’re so bright and full. I realize quickly that I’ve seen those eyes. Those were the eyes I locked onto right after I got done throwing up all over myself. Embarrassment crawls up my neck, and I quickly avert my gaze, taking in the rest of him.

His hair’s pulled up in a messy bun of chestnut curls. A few stray pieces hang loose, accentuating his smooth, chiseled face. I’ve always loved the thought of long hair on men, but I’ve never seen one in person be able to pull off a manbun like this, only pictures in magazines.

Leaning forward, he rests his massive forearms on his knees, each muscle flexing beneath his golden skin, and his colossal thighs press against the edges of the seat. He’s easily the biggest man I’ve ever seen in my life. If I had to guess just based on his current position, he’s at least six and a half feet. Despite his imposing figure, his posture exudes a quiet protectiveness and there’s a certain grace about him, a calm and gentle deliberateness that hints at both power and self-assuredness.

Swallowing, I move on to the next one, but I’m met with two sets of whiskey eyes. Almost identical, the only difference is the emotions reflected toward me. The first set shows nothing at all, just a blankness that makes me want to speak up just to get a reaction, but I hold my tongue. The second set…the second set shows a mistrust so deeply rooted, it makes me flinch. I decide to give the first set the same observation I did with the gorgeous, green-eyed giant.

Gorgeous? What the hell, Willow?

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